PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sai Fukuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Fine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fukuta
vs
Fine

175 cm
25
155 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

167 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Fast

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sai Fukuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Fine!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukuta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fine leaves Fukuta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fine lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fine shoots for a double leg takedown but Fukuta sprawls well. He's pushed Fine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fukuta ducks under a wild hook from Fine.
Fine looks to land a left hand but Fukuta moved out of range nicely.

Fukuta looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fukuta wants to free his trapped foot but Fine is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Fine regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Fukuta.
Fine looking for a sweep. Not yet Fine, not yet.
Fukuta wants to control from the top but Fine keeps moving.

Fine looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuta controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fukuta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fukuta has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fine is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sai Fukuta has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fukuta.
Fukuta fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Fine misses.
Fukuta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fukuta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fine throws a lazy uppercut
letting Fukuta counter with a right hand.
Fukuta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fine ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fukuta moves away.
Fine looks to land a left hand but Fukuta moved out of range nicely.
Fukuta scores with a jab to the jaw.
Fukuta moves out of range as Fine strikes.
Fine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fukuta looks to land a right hand but Fine moved out of range.
Fine looks to land a right hand but Fukuta moved out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fine connects with a right hand. Fukuta shakes it off.
Fine is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Jab from Fine.
Fine lands with an uppercut that bounces Fukuta off the cage and back into range.
A jab from Fine misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fukuta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fukuta takes one to the side of the head.
Fine dodges the punch combination from Fukuta.
Fine swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fukuta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fukuta closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fine connects with a jab.
Larry Fine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fine throws a looping overhand right but Fukuta ducks down to avoid it.
Fukuta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fine paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fine loads up on a big right hand but Fukuta slips the punch.
Fine lands a glancing blow to the side of Fukuta's head.
Fukuta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fine.
Fine is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Fukuta had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Fukuta looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Fukuta decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fukuta on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fine throws a jab but it's blocked by Fukuta.
Fukuta throws a wild body kick that Fine sees coming a mile off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukuta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fine counters with a stiff right hand.
Fine misses with a lunging right hand
and Fukuta counters with a body kick.
Fine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fukuta counters with a two punch combo.
Fine has his takedown stuffed
and Fukuta counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sai Fukuta will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fukuta throws a sloppy head kick and Fine moves out of range easily.
Fukuta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fine.
A jab from Fine misses.
Fine throws a poor cross that misses
and Fukuta counters with a three punch combo that has Fine backing up. Fine nods at Fukuta to acknowledge the strikes.
Fine throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fukuta counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Decent striking displayed by Fine there.
Fine missing with a left hand there. Fukuta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fukuta chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice shot lands for Fine.
Fine blocks a jab.
Fine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Fukuta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fukuta.
Fukuta trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fukuta struggles to land a body shot inside as Fine controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fukuta pulls guard.

Fukuta has his foot on Fine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fine works his way back into a safe position though.
Fine prevents Fukuta from getting back to his feet.

Fukuta is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fine is aware though and is defending well.
Fine stops Fukuta from standing up.
Fine wants to control from the top but Fukuta keeps moving.
Fine stopping the sweep attempt from Fukuta.
Fukuta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fine is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fine is controlling him.

Fine got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fukuta has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fine has managed to get both his arms back between Fukuta's legs - danger averted.
Fine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fukuta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fine pushing down on Fukuta's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fukuta pushes Fine off and gets back to his feet.
Fukuta missing with a left hand there. Fine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fine lands a head shot.
Fine with a nice cross.
A swing and a miss from Fine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Fine.
Fukuta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fine fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fukuta looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sai Fukuta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fukuta tries to close the distance and clinch but Fine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fukuta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fine lands a lovely overhand right.
Fine throws a lazy uppercut
and Fine takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fine scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fukuta throws a nice looking combination but Fine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fine paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fukuta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fine.
Fine scores with a nice head shot.

Fine shoots in and gets a takedown into Fukuta's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fine prevents Fukuta from getting back to his feet.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Fukuta manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Fukuta manages to break the clinch.
Fine misses with a straight left.
Fine is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fukuta.
Fukuta connects with the punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fine throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fukuta counters with a left to the body.
Fukuta lands with a nice body kick.
Fine slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sai Fukuta will probably get the nod.
That's time! Fukuta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fukuta doesn't manage to clinch there - Fine circles away.
Fine fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fine misses with a looping left.
A jab from Fine misses.
Fukuta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fine looks to land a right hand but Fukuta moved out of range.
Fukuta tries to clinch but Fine moves out of range.
Fukuta moves forwards but Fine connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fine avoids the head kick by Fukuta.
Nice uppercut there from Fine.
Fine slips a jab and a cross from Fukuta.
Fine scores with a nice head shot.
Fine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fukuta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Fine misses.
Fine misses with a hook.
Fine sizes up Fukuta with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fine takes one to the chin there.
Fukuta ducks under a wild hook from Fine.
Fine lands a nice shot that snaps Fukuta's head back.
Fine misses with a straight left.
Fukuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fine manages to avoid it.

Fukuta rushes Fine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fukuta lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fukuta is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fine after a bit of a struggle.
Fukuta throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fines head.
Fukuta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Fine blocks an uppercut.
Fine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fukuta wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fukuta working aggressively here.
Fukuta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fukuta tries a body shot but Fine blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fukuta swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Fine has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fukuta uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Fukuta gets to his feet - Fine follows without any prompting.
Fine scores with a hook to the body. Fukuta takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fukuta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fine defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sai Fukuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukuta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fine might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Fukuta lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fine connects with a body shot.

Fukuta clinches up against the cage.
Fine trying to control the position but instead, Fukuta has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fine into the cage.
Sai Fukuta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta is trying to pull guard but Fine turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Fine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fine throws a hook but Fukuta avoids it easily.
Fukuta closes the distance and clinches up with Fine, looking for a takedown. Fukuta pushes Fine against the cage but Fine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Fine 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fine lands a nice shot that snaps Fukuta's head back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukuta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fine.
Fukuta misses with a wild combination.
Larry Fine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fine misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Larry Fine.
I think Fukuta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!